We're iFroglab and we did a cool thing of LoRa, Regarding to LoRa alliance has publish News and released such solution of IOT.
its good product can be extend for WiFI/BTLE using distance for such RF technical. (e.g can be extend to 2Km)
but,the LoRa gateway is quite expensive and can't be accepted.(around $1600-$2100)
therefore,we did a LoRa dongle that can be solved this problem if you want to design LoRa topology;
we have LoRa module that can connection with LoRa gateway(Raspberry Pi+LoRa dongle).
yes.,we can plug in a LoRa dongle on your raspberry PI that running our sample code then it will become to LoRa gateway(Low cost).

btw, you can chose LoRa application now and solved the long range transmission(around 7km) .

*The iForglab lab has make LoRa node and LoRa dongle that can apply on your Raspberry PI and easy to approach LoRa application now*

And...And we have brand new ideas that help to quickly establish your LoRa dongle. its call LoRa APP that works on Raspberry PI<Raspbian>
you could see this user interface and quite easy to use.

My iFrogLab LoRa USB dongle also uses the same software, making it easy for my Raspberry Pi to send data to a PC Server with instantaneous 10KM and regular send and receive, making it easy to use and stable.
You do not have to go through an expensive LoRa Wan console.